1961 super rocket vin id

[rico95993]

I have what I think is a 61 super rocket but where the vin should be on the steering neck there is a steel plate or gusset and it kinda looks stock. Is the frame vin somewhere else on a 61 super rocket

[Richard]

I have just looked at my 61 S/R and the frame number (vin) is on the left hand side on the edge of the gussett plate where it meets the down tube at the head stock. You may find it is under a load of paint as they are not stamped very deep.
Hope you find it
Richard

[bsa-bill]

Another thing to remember is frames without numbers are not bound to be dodgy in fact probably the reverse, replacement frames from BSA came without numbers stamped on them.
Speaking from personal experience here having been struck at a tangent by an AJ many moons ago.
Needed frame, tank, wheel rebuild and forks - cost 65 UK pounds, back then that was probably six weeks wages

All the best - Bill

[LJ.]

But is it okay to have a number stamped just under the rear brake crossover? I have an A10 frame that I'm currently applying for UK registration and its looking like its not going to be accepted by the BSA owners club. Still waiting to hear more about this. The headstock shows no sign of ground off numbers, I rather think it was a brand new replacement frame to replace an accident write off. Who knows?

[rico95993]

I am new to the forum and am going to have learn how to attach a pic. The steering neck looks different than all the others I have seen because the welded strap that only goes up to about where the vin number is, goes all the way to the top covering where it should be. I am tempted to cut it down to where my 59 frame is.

[rico95993]

And I also am looking for an A10 tank and I have an A50 A65 tank for at least a partial trade

[trevinoz]

Rico,
       the full gusset was introduced in 1960 so is correct for your frame.
As pointed out by Richard, the number should be stamped on the left side of the gusset plate over the frame tube.
Trev.

[rico95993]

Thanks for the reply on the gusset. All the books I have didn't show a very good pic of the 61. I am beggining to think maybe it is a replacement frame because there isn't a number where it's supposed to be. I wish I had joined this forum a long time ago.

[RichardL]

LJ,

Trev's comment should be very god news for you. Maybe Trev can reference his source of information, even though I think it might just be years and years with lots of A10s, so that you can present it to the BSAOC.  I was on the verge of suggesting forensic comparison of the stamps between those on the neck and those on the gusset. After all, they were stamped by hand and probabaly at a limited number of final stations on the assembly line.


Richard L.
 

[trevinoz]

Richard L,
                 you are correct in surmising my source is many years and many machines, my own and others.
 Trev.

[rico95993]

Would it be possible that a US replacement frame could have escaped getting a vin#

[trevinoz]

Over 40 odd years, anything is possible!
Trev.

[Richard]

Have you stripped the paint off and got that area down to bare metal?
Richard

[dynodave]

I posess a 61+ A-10 replacement frame that was without any stamped #.
I concur that all the A-10 frames I have seen have the VIN running in line with the LH down tubes but stamped on the gusset plate. the # start at the top and run down the frame and the # are read from in front of the bike.


cheers

[rico95993]

I have a dilema. I just scraped off all the paint on the gusset and no numbers. Looked everywhere for one and discovered something I should have seen before. The frame has no tubes for passenger pegs and the forks look more like earlier forks. Only thing I can think of is that it is a 1957 Rocket Scrambler with a1961 Super Rocket engine. If anyone wants pics of the bike, I can email them.  The Bacon guide shows the Rocket/Spitfre Scrambler as an even more valuable bike. It has 19 inch wheels with full width alloy hubs and screw in axle front forks.